When I was a teenager, I had this feeling that pulled me to do family history. I fought against it because I had other things to do like sports, hanging out with friends, reading, and homework. That pull, however, has never left, and as I embraced the feeling I have found contentment that I didn’t have before. Recently I started to write biographies of my ancestors that didn’t seem to have one. It’s difficult because all I know are dates, places, names, and occasionally an occupation or something similar that was mentioned in a census or death record. This doesn’t make for interesting reading.
While doing the research for these ancestors I found myself thinking how nice it would have been if they had written their own. That’s when it dawned on me that if I wanted my biography to be accurate and fun to read I would need to be the one to write it. So I did some research to get tips on how to write my own life history.
Decide your audience
What stories you tell in your life history is going to depend on who you are writing it for. If you are writing it for the general public you may not want to include any deeply personal stories. However, if it’s meant for your family, you might add those stories so younger generations can learn from them.
Write one story at a time
Writing a life history can feel overwhelming. For most of us, there are a lot of years to cover and if you’re anything like me, it’s hard enough remembering what happened yesterday, let alone 10, 15, or 20 years ago. Because of this, my favorite tip was to write one story at a time. Instead of writing your life in chronological order, start with a fun story that you like to share or that other people like to hear. You can then write another story, then another, and so on. If you want it in chronological order just add it where it goes. Writing one story at a time makes the task more realistic and doable. Each story could be a couple of sentences or a couple of pages. Either way, it adds to your overall life history in a more manageable way. Looking at pictures, going through a journal, or looking at a list of questions are great ways to help jog your memories.
A personal history template can help you get started on your personal history. It helps you get an idea of what information you might need to include as well as ideas on what you might want to include. Each template is different and has different ideas for you to consider. Some templates are fill in the blank. These write the narration for you and only requires you to input the information. To find a template, just search for one online. I have also created one that you can use called Fill in the Blank Life Story.
Include pictures, maps, and other documents
Who doesn’t love reading books with pictures? Pictures make the story come to life. It brings interest and makes the story more real. If you were looking through pictures and a story came to you, include that picture in your history. If you moved around a lot, consider adding a map so those that read your story can follow your journey. Other documents you might include would be birth, marriage, or death certificates, house or land deeds, military registration cards, plane tickets… the list can go on. Each of these is interesting and helps tell your story.
Write like you’re talking to somebody
Most people don’t like reading cold, hard, facts. They tend to skip over this information if it’s listed one after another without a break. We like to be drawn in and included in the story. If you write like you were telling the story to somebody else it helps bring interest to what you’re saying. It draws them in and makes it relatable and easier to understand.
Include an index
Other ideas
Carry a pencil and paper with you. Sights and smells can bring back memories that you want to include in your life history and chances are you won’t be sitting near a computer; you may not even have your phone on you. Write a few sentences down on paper so you don’t forget the memories and stories.
Use a voice recorder. If you are prepared and have your phone or another recording device, make a vocal reminder of the story you wish to share. This allows you to say it how you want it shared and also gives future generations the chance to hear your voice after you’re gone.
Conclusion
There are many different ways to write your personal history. First, figure out who you’re writing it for so you know what stories and information you want to include. After that, it’s just a matter of starting to write. You can use a life history template that you find online to help you organize your thoughts or start by writing your favorite story and going from there. You can use a journal and/or pictures to help you remember certain events. Just remember that no matter what you do, you need to do what’s right for you. It’s your story, and you’re the best person to tell it.
